Sonic 35th Anniversary Predictions – Endless Possibility

This year, 2026, marks the 35th anniversary of the release of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis in 1991. It’s no secret that I’m a massive Sonic fan,I’ve been hooked practically since birth. And let me tell you, anniversaries in this franchise are a big deal. The ones I remember growing up are the 20th, 25th, and 30th anniversaries.

Sega always makes a big show of these milestones, typically culminating in the release of a major game. So, I’d like to share what I hope to see for this anniversary! Keep in mind, this is all hypothetical, nothing has been officially announced at the time of writing.

Prediction #1 – Sonic Unleashed Remaster

Sonic Unleashed was released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2008, with demakes for the Wii and PS2. It was the first “3D boost” title, featuring a gameplay mechanic where, with ring energy, you could hold a button and get an insane speed boost.

The game also introduced the “Werehog” levels: during the day, you play as regular Sonic in boost stages, and at night, you play as Sonic the Werehog. When it first released, the game was extremely divisive, but in recent years it has seen a surge in popularity.

Every boost title except Unleashed is now available on modern hardware, with its successors, Sonic Colors (2010) and Sonic Generations (2011), already receiving ports and remasters this decade. Unleashed is one of the games I grew up with, so I would absolutely love to see it brought to modern consoles. Given its recent representation in games like Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, I think a remaster is a pretty safe bet.

Prediction #2 – 3D Sonic Collection

Speaking of games stuck on older hardware, the Adventure games and Heroes were last playable on the GameCube. Sonic Adventure 1 and 2 are iconic, as is Sonic Heroes, so porting them to modern consoles with some improvements seems like a no-brainer.

Sonic is no stranger to collections. Sonic Origins (2022) compiled all the Genesis and Game Gear games. Other franchises, like Crash and Spyro, have done similar collections, though theirs tend to be more remakes than simple ports. A 3D Sonic collection has never been done, and this anniversary would be the perfect opportunity to celebrate Sonic’s rich history.

Prediction #3 – Sonic Heroes Remake

While on the topic of Heroes, a remake of this title has been rumored for the past year or two. According to leaks, a Sonic remake code-named “Guinness” is being developed internally by Sonic Team. The logical conclusion? A full-fledged remake or reimagining of Sonic Heroes, the only Sonic game to win a Guinness World Record.

Timing-wise, this would also fit perfectly with Sega’s cross-media marketing strategy. For example, the “Year of Shadow” in 2024 saw the release of Shadow Generations, which reintroduced audiences to Shadow’s lore leading up to the third Sonic movie, where he was the focus. With the fourth movie releasing in March 2027, featuring Metal Sonic as the main antagonist, a Heroes remake would be a clever marketing tie-in, Metal Sonic was also the main villain in Heroes, and elements from the game could be incorporated into the movie.

Prediction #4 – Next Mainline Sonic Release

In 2022, Sonic Frontiers marked the first mainline Sonic game in five years. It was widely praised for its fresh approach to Sonic. According to game director Morio Kishimoto, this title marks the start of the “Third Generation” of Sonic.

With Sonic Team’s growth following Frontiers’ massive success, and the game becoming the best-selling 3D Sonic title ever. A new mainline game seems inevitable. While the next release could theoretically come in 2026, it might be delayed to 2027 to ensure quality. Frontiers itself was delayed from 2021 to 2022 to allow more development time, and I expect a similar approach for the next installment.

Final Thoughts

The possibilities for this anniversary are endless. Whether it’s a remake, a collection, or the next evolution of the franchise. Sonic fans are definitely in for a treat. This decade has been a “Sonic Renaissance,” bringing the franchise to new heights, and the next release will hopefully continue that upward trajectory.

As the main theme of Sonic Unleashed reminds us, there truly are “Endless Possibilities.”